Aires on A75 in France

On the way down to Spain earlier this week we drove tthe A75 for the first time. What a fantastic trip - magnificent scenery and great civil engineering. We will probably use he same road back in 3 weeks or so time. We noticed many very nice clean quiet Aires and were wondering if the same warning about never using motorway Aires applied to this quieter road. We would be looking to stay in the quieter ones without petrol stations etc.

i never take notice of any of the scare stories but sometimes beat to pitch in with the trucks it will make u feel safer but i for 1 have never had any problems no matter where i have stayed safe roads and enjoy the trip

best to regret the things you have done not the things you haven't done
bill

1. Pick-nick Aires .. simple a parking place or rest stop.. usually toilets , but no petrol station.. anyone can use, car truck, bus, lorry etc. not usually lit at night.

2. Service Aires.. as above, anyone can use.. + fuel and a shop, usually lit.

3. Camping Car Aires.. what most people think of when they say aire..
As a minimum it will have drinking water, grey and black waste dumping and waste bin.. many have an ehu that you pay for. Usually lit at night.
They are Motorhomes ONLY ..

Back to your question..

Personally , first choice would be a Camping Car Aire .. if not then a Service Station aire.. I would NOT use a Pick-nick aire.. they look lovely in day time but are pitch black at night and IMO the least desirable and riskiest place to stop for a nights kip.

Tens if not hundreds of thousands use Camping Car aires every year with no problems..

I have the book and was using the camping car ones all the way through France, with no problems. And I know about the problems with motorway Aires, although we used to use them with no problems at all 25 years ago with kids and caravan. Just asking about this particular motorway's Aires, and people's experiences of using them.

I would imagine that the percentage of European Motorhomers who actually subscribe to MHfun is very low, probably a lot less than 1%.
It would be interesting to see actual Police figures of reported crime on French Aires.

I would imagine that the percentage of European Motorhomers who actually subscribe to MHfun is very low, probably a lot less than 1%.
It would be interesting to see actual Police figures of reported crime on French Aires.

:Cool:

Click to expand...

yes, I absolutely agree .. it's only a snapshot.. a bit like a poll...

It is a fab motorway for scenery and of course it's free from Clermont southwards other than the Millau bridge.

We've picnicked or peed at the vast bulk of the aires over the years but have never ever stayed overnight at any of em and when using it, just use the 'All The Aires' map to find a proper MoHo Aire somewhere just off that road.

Just north of Beziers, Lake Salagou is worth a detour off Jct 54 (where there is a large Intermarche etc) for the scenery of it alone - and there's an aire next to the Camping Municipal on the Clermont l'Herault side - but do not attempt to access it via Les Bories as the road through the hamlet is far too narrow even for some cars! - with a complete double back on yourself hairpin - go via CH itself or drive round the lake anti clockwise instead.

In doing the latter, there's also another - just overnight parking for 4 vans, no facilities - in a side road on the motorway side of the lake, near Octon. The road is signposted 'Village du Bosc' which is a campsite (and very nice, but only if you are naturist :Laughing

SE of Clermont Ferrand, the aire at St Pourçain sur Sioule is worth a visit as is, further south, the town of St Flour itself although we weren't keen on the aire so didn't stay.

You could always meander off the Mway properly, into the Land of the Volcanoes - eg the aire at the Puy de Dome is good value for money seeing as it's free LOL You now take a very steep train ride round and round to the top and it's quite cheap. It's either that or walk, you can no longer ride a bike or motorbike up the road and you haven't been able to drive a car up it for years.

Further north if you go that way, check out the aire at Lamotte Beuvron - lovely.

We have stayed overnight many times on the A75. We have usually stayed on the “Lozere” services at junction 32. Co-ordinates are 44°52'15.56" N 3°14'53.98" E :thumb:

This is a nice place to stay. :thumb: Not only is it a “motorway aire”, but it has a lovely arboretum and there is an interesting display of granite stone and its history. :thumb:

There are plenty of places to park up around the vast park or on the restaurant car park. There are water taps around the park, toilets and showers. All FREE!!! Fuel station and lorry park are also there.:thumb:

We have always found a number of other motorhomes and caravans parked up for the night and we have had no problems there whatsoever. :thumb:

Have a look on Google Earth street view. In our opinion, a great overnight stop when going either north or south on the A75. :thumb: